Leadership: Principles in the Classroom

Effective classroom management is at the heart of good teaching. Teachers need to focus more on managing the classroom rather than on disciplinary problems. Clear understanding of how things are done, will lead to effective communication within the classroom.
There are several principles to effectively managing a classroom and these are discussed below.


PRINCIPLE 1: Build Community

Building caring relationships with students is the cornerstone of good classroom management. These relationships will help to create communities of learners where each child is valued. In this climate, students will take risks and collaborate more in their own learning.
There are several activities a teacher can engage in to build community. these include:
Greeting your students at the door:
This simple gesture creates that moment when you and the student make eye contact, speak directly to each other (“good morning”/"good afternoon"/ "how was your weekend?"), and have a connection. This may be the only one-on-one you have that day with the student, but it has great value. When you model a respectful way to greet another human being, you are implicitly telling each student that this is how we will communicate with each other.!


Get to know one another:
Teachers and students begin learning each others names the first day of school and should be able to address one another by name within two weeks. Use engaging, age-appropriate activities for learning names and for getting acquainted. As students learn more and more about one another, connections will begin to happen. This inevitably leads to more empathy and understanding and, ultimately, caring relationships with a lot less classroom conflict.! Student photos will help you connect names and faces. Definitely take the time and energy to
continue growing community and relationships in the classroom. The payoff is worth the effort.!


PRINCIPLE 2: Design a Safe, Well-Managed and Friendly Classroom Environment

The classroom environment needs to be positive where students can take risks as they take charge of their own learning. There must be clear guidelines outlining how students can receive and give support. The instructional and physical arrangements must also lead to success in the classroom.


PRINCIPLE 3: Include Students in Creating Rules, Norms, Routines & Consequences

Students' involvement in establishing rules and routines with the desired consequences, are more likely to result in active participation. The responsibility is for the teacher to consistently reinforce acceptable behaviors in the classroom with positive correction. A key to this is to "Catch the student being good", where the focus is on encouraging and rewarding rather than punishment.

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Sources: CCT-SVG-June2012
Permission Granted by Gerald Ross